Author of the famous musical title "Un enfant de toi", released in 1987 and sold more than 500,000 copies, Phil Barney - Philippe Israel Baranès - reveals himself to us. With this huge success of the French song heritage as a background, he talks with humility about his vision of success, his tour with "Star 80", but also about his origins, where he comes from, his culinary tastes and above all, about his next album. He feels lucky to have known the glory, besides he often speaks about it to his rabbi ;) In the middle of his fourteen dogs, twelve cats and a few exotic birds, a virtuoso with a big heart invites us into his spiritual and creative universe.
Fréquence Juive : "Your real name is Philippe Israël Baranès. Do you think it can be associated with the Hebrew name BarHaNess' = Miracle Worker, namely, Rabbi Meir Baal Haness? Phil Barney : "Yes, and my Hebrew name is Israel Baranes! I have no ego at all. I am very simple! What I love about Judaism is that I can ask a thousand questions, have 6 million answers to each one and generate more. That's how I function. I put on my tefilin every morning but nothing more. I don't eat kosher, but in my house, we don't bring in pork. I asked my rabbi how to do Pesach at home with exotic birds..." "My way of talking to G-d is to make music". Fréquence Juive : "Apparently you like cooking, the one from your origins - Algeria? Which typical dish do you prefer?".
Phil Barney : "I was born in Algeria in Annaba, but my culture is Algerian-Tunisian since my maternal grandmother is from Tunisia. Having learned to cook from my mother and grandmother - even though at the time boys did not belong in the kitchen! -My recipes are very oriental and above all very family oriented. My favorite recipe is marmouma - cooked tomato and bell pepper salad. "I make food like my mother, when I cook for two people, there is enough for 8 ! Fréquence Juive : "In 2010, Phil Barney joined the legendary "Stars 80" troupe? Do you have any anecdotes about this tour to tell us? Phil Barney : "At first it was called "Rfm party 80". Bought by Cheyenne Productions associated with Thomas Langmann, the son of Claude Berry, who found the name "Star 80". At the beginning, there were only bands and when it was bought by Cheyenne Productions, it became a real American show with musicians, dancers, videos, sounds and extraordinary lights. The atmosphere that reigned during this tour was very fraternal. On the bus, in the hotels, all the artists, musicians and dancers together, not to mention all the egos and differences of everyone, well the atmosphere was always great!" "Stars 80" is a musical tour of variety artists who have made hits in the 1980s for the most part.
In 1981, at the age of twenty-four, Phil Barney participated in the creation of the free radio Carbone 14, on which he programmed exclusively black music such as funk. It is him who contributes to make rap known in France.
Fréquence Juive : "You have written more than 85 songs, including "un enfant de toi". How do you explain this great success? Phil Barney : "On my last album, I wrote 80 songs but only kept 15. Today, in France, many artists of my generation have difficulties producing and especially financing new albums, which, in terms of distribution, are now only downloadable on internet platforms. What works are the concerts. I work on new shows. This title " un enfant de toi ", I wrote it in 10 minutes and it changed my whole life. It allows me to exist again. I was the first one surprised. At the time, I was a DJ in a nightclub when I learned that we were selling more than 15,000 records a day. It was a sad song but it marked a lot of people. It entered this decade. It is an anthem! Three chords, a simple story, and people still cry about it. I don't even know why I wrote it. I even talked to my rabbi about it! He says that there are two things that form the soul of a Jew; Torah study and music - one of the branches of the menorah -! A song can make your body move, laugh or cry. This is not scientifically proven, but it is considered to come from the Divine. My name is Israel Baranes, maybe it was my destiny! To each his own, each his own path, each his own choice. I like what I share with people, I like to be creative, that is my ultimate goal.
" "This title I wrote in 10 minutes it changed my life! » Fréquence Juive : "Your last album "Au fil de l'eau" dates back to 2015, since then, are you currently working on a new album? In what style? in what theme?" Phil Barney : "I've too often been put in a sad song drawer but not at all! I like funk, I like groove. I am a Mediterranean but also an Oriental! I am now working on 38 songs that move, even reggae! One of my next shows will be in collaboration with Sidney Hip Hop and Joniece Jamison, to put together a trio covering the biggest standards of Funk Music." Interview by Fréquence juive.
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